MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF BISHOP'S CASTLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL ON TUESDAY 3RD APRIL 2007 AT 8.30 PM

PRESENT Councillor J.M. Carroll, Mayor, in the Chair.
Councillors: M. Davidson - Stanley, S.A. Farr, J.E. Gaffney, N. Hird, M. E. Holton,
J. E. Howell, J.A. Magill, Dr. G.N.St.J. Penney, K.E.C. Pinches and
R.D. Wright.
In attendance: Mrs. J. Ince
Approximately 40 members of the public.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Apologies were received from Cllr. Morris

2. DECLARATION OF INTEREST:
a) Declaration of personal interest: none
b) Declaration of prejudicial interest: none

BIOMAS POWER PROJECT
The meeting was closed for a presentation by John Evans, Shropshire Highland Seeds and Chris Day, consultant on the proposed biomas power project at Crowgate Business Park.
Mr Evans gave a short introduction and then introduced Chris Day, the consultant on the project.
Mr Day gave information and details on the project as outlined in the leaflet "Bishop's Castle Biomas Power Project." He went on to explain that it could be looked at under 3 headings
1. Policy - The Government policy is to reduce emissions. It has in fact a legal duty to do this. This will be delegated to regions (Regeneration zones) which will then be delegated to the County.
2. Technical - Mr Day explained that Bishop's Castle needs more power as the voltage fluctuates. This plant will give 2.5 MW which will reinforce the grid and stabilise the voltage.
3. Farming and forestry. The biomas will be supplied by local farms and forestry. (20 -30 km radius) The farms will have a 10 year contract which will enable them to invest in modern technology. The straw will be taken as bio fuel.
He went on to explain that it will be a combustion steam cycle plant which uses advanced air pollution controls so that clean gases will be generated. The emissions will be under continuous monitoring. Mr Day said he had been very interested in all the issues and concerns that he had heard this afternoon and felt the main concern is air quality. He went on to say there would be a full EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) and that most noise would be eliminated. In 2 - 3 weeks a second document will be produced which will give a lot of technical detail. In May there will be an overview and detailed planning application. The web site will be kept up to date on progress and there will be regular public meetings. Tomorrow (4th April) there will be a pre application meeting with the SSDC Planning Department. When the EIA is completed it is proposed to have another drop in meeting. This will be early May. The EIA is a public document. A non technical summary document will also be produced. (about 12 pages). The planning application will be submitted in mid May.
Questions were then invited from the floor.
Q1 - Who carries out the EIA?
Ans - A third party consultant paid for by the project.
Q2- Does the District Council have officers capable of assessing the technical information?
Ans - Probably not. The EU directive says that an independent consultant must be independent so that both parties can use them.
Q3 - Can you confirm that there will be nothing else burnt besides biomas?
Ans - We can confirm that only biomas will be burnt. No plastics or treated timber.
Q4 - Is the project totally carbon neutral, including the vehicles, movements, farming, etc?
Ans - It is actually 95% carbon neutral when everything is taken into account.
Q5 - Are the supply of wood chips chemically treated?
Ans - No
Q6 - What is the size of the piece of land to be used?
Ans - 2 hectares (4 acres) The height of the building is 12m and the height of the stack is 16m from the ground which is no higher than the present tree height and will be screened.
Q7 - Why such a large area?
Ans - Most of the area is needed for the manoeuvring of the HGV's. Most of the building is for storage.
Q8 - Is there room for another plant?
Ans - Probably not but even if there is room we would not build another one here. We would build it in another town.
Q9 - Will it be wood chips from Ransfords that are burnt?
Ans - Very little will come from Ransfords. It is mostly coppiced alder, willow and poplar grown along the rivers in the wet areas. They reach maturity in 4-5 years when they are coppiced.
Q10 - How many lorry movements?
Ans - 4 per day maximum.
Q11 - Will the Crowgate Child Nursery be moved by the time the plant is running?
Ans. Cllr. Carroll replied that the Crowgate Child Nursery is planned to move in two years.
Mr Day replied that in that case they should be moved. He also added that two or three other companies are looking at sites on the Business Park.
Q12 - How many sites has Mr Day's company designed?
Ans - 10 in all. Eccleshall, Staffs should start operation soon. One in Portugal is up and running. Other projects are part of other industrial sites. Mr Day added the technology is well proven.
Q13 - How sensitive is the market price for feed stock. Is the project viable?
Ans - Farmers need long term backable projects. The plant must isolate itself from market influence. Farmers will be offered 10 year contracts so that they can make capital changes. 8% of set aside will be coming into production. Instead of producing short wheat farmers will produce long wheat.
Q14 - How many local jobs will be created?
Ans - About 25 in all. Half of these will be in support. Eg. farmers. 4 people will actually be employed to work the plant. Another 3 0r 4 will be involved in transport etc.
Q15 - Can we have the name and address of the plant in Portugal?
Ans - Mr Day replied that he would give the details to the Clerk. He would also seek permission from his industrial clients to give their details as well.
Q 16 - Who will run this plant?
Ans - A third party contractor.
Q 17 - Will there be more fields of oilseed rape?
Ans - No. There can't be as rape has to be grown as part of a crop rotation.
Q18 - How will the dioxins and particulates be monitored?
Ans. There is no new technology. Mr Day will produce a spec on all components. When commissioned it will all be checked. When it is running readings will be given on the web site.
Q19 - There are set points when the machine cuts out. Are there problems with monitoring when it starts up and closes down?
Ans - Yes there can be problems but there will be no environmental impact.
Q20 - How do you monitor the output of the stacks?
Ans - A continuous filter will keep it clean. There are two types of filter but it is not known which one will be used yet.

Q21 - Will the milking herds be safe?
Ans - Yes. The ground level concentration has to be safe for wildlife as well as people so the cows should not be affected.
Q22 - Can you guarantee a clean, efficient, safe plant?
Ans - There will be a ten year preventative maintenance plan. It will be continually monitored. Results will be shown on the web site.
Q23 - How long is the plant designed to last?
Ans - 20 years.
Q24 - Why Bishop's Castle?
Ans - Mr Evans replied that because he is based in Bishop's Castle and he feels that this plant will help the community of Bishop's Castle. It has been designed for Bishop's Castle so that it can use local wood chips. Bishop's Castle is a farming community that needs diversification.
Q25 - What benefits are there for the people of Bishop's Castle?
Ans - Reliable electricity supply. It will help the wider forestry and farming community. There will be a few jobs created.
Q26 - There are different definitions of biomas. Will other things will be burnt besides wood chips. I.e. chicken carcases and litter?
Ans - We will only be licensed for a certain category that includes woodchips. Waste animal products will not be allowed to be burnt. If the supply of wood material runs out the plant will have top be closed.
Q27 - Why was the project changed from the proposed plant at Brockton to Bishop's Castle?
Ans - Mr Evans said he would explain the history. Six founder members from Shropshire Highland Seeds, a co-operative of 6 local farmers formed in 1964, put out an idea at Brockton but here was no actual project. They set up a new company called SPG with another consultant (not Chris day). A feasibility study was carried out and that idea was abandoned and SPG no longer exists. The new idea at Bishop's Castle came out of this The six farmers are directors of Shropshire Highland Seeds with Chris Day acting as agent. Mr Day will submit the plans as agent. Mr Evans went on to explain that they had advice on the best technology for this area, looked at this machine and thought it more proven.
Q28 - Have any plants you have designed been shut down?
Ans - No

The meeting was re-opened
3. BIOMAS POWER PROJECT
Cllr. Dr. Penney proposed that a letter be sent to Bill Jones, Director of Environment and Development, South Shropshire District Council asking him if he will do an independent Environmental Impact Assessment on the proposed scheme. Seconded by Cllr. Stanley and approved.
Cllr. Gaffney proposed that Mr Grundy, a leading county consultant on wood resources in the Bishop's Castle area be asked to give a short presentation at the next meeting. (approx 10 minutes) Seconded by Cllr. Wright and approved.
It was agreed that it is important for the Council to have ongoing independent expert advice and information.
The Mayor declared the meeting closed at 9.50 p.m.